Heika: Jaromir Jagr, Stars talking about a contract extension

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Matt Slocum/AP

In this March 8, 2012, file photo, Philadelphia Flyers' Jaromir Jagr looks across the ice during an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers in Philadelphia. The Dallas Stars announced on their Twitter account, Tuesday, July 3, that they have signed Jagr to a deal that the Canadian Press is reporting is a one-year contract for $4.55 million.

FRISCO — Jaromir Jagr likes the Stars. The Stars like Jaromir Jagr. So the two sides are talking about a contract extension.

The interesting thing about Jagr is, well, he’s very interesting. He’s different, and older, and he understands his power as an NHL icon. But he’s also cautious, and unsure, and he understands his legacy as an NHL icon.

That’s why he seems to go with one-year deals — like the $4.55 million contract he signed with the Stars last summer — and then deal with whatever happens after that.

“In my mind, I don’t want to sign too long, because if I play bad, I don’t want to be stuck someplace and I don’t want to hurt the team,” Jagr said Wednesday. “The whole key is I want to be someplace where I can help. If I play [bad], I don’t want to do that to somebody. If I play good, I can always sign.”

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk has gotten to know Jagr well this season, which is why the team is pursuing an extension with its 41-year-old leading scorer.

“Certainly, everything that Jaromir has done, whether that’s off the ice and helping the younger players or leading the team in scoring, we’re happy with it,” Nieuwendyk said. “So, naturally, we’d like to pursue an extension.”

Nieuwendyk said he couldn’t characterize the talks, other than to say that the two sides like each other. He said he doesn’t want the talks to be a distraction for the team or for Jagr.

He also wouldn’t comment on whether failing to sign Jagr to an extension would mean the Stars would make Jagr available at the trade deadline April 3. But you get the feeling your No. 68 Stars jersey is safe for this year.

The risk of moving Jagr and then trying to re-sign him in the summer is too great. If the Stars really like his contributions, and he’s not ready to sign a contract extension now, then the right move for the Stars, it seems, is to simply hang on to what they have and try to get things done in the summer.

Jagr is a complex personality, but Nieuwendyk said he’s enjoyed peeling back the layers of the eighth-leading scorer in NHL history.

“He’s really a hockey nerd,” Nieuwendyk said with a laugh. “I mean, he just loves the game and lives for the game, and you love that about him. I’ve really enjoyed his personality, and he’s obviously been one of our best players, so I think he’s brought a ton to our team.”

Jagr said he didn’t want to talk about a contract extension with the media, but he is honest when you ask him what he wants out of his career.

He spent four years in the KHL in Russia, played in Philadelphia with the Flyers last season, signed with the Stars during the summer, then played with Kladno in the Czech League during the lockout. He has only spent a short time in Dallas, but he seems to be fitting in, leading the team in points (25) and goals (14).

“I like it here, and I don’t want to change all the time,” Jagr said. “I didn’t want to leave Philly, but it happened. The more I feel comfortable, the more I feel I know the place, the better.”

But he also knows the power he yields. He is at 999 assists, and would become the 12th player in league history to hit 1,000. So on the bench Monday against Minnesota, he joked to linemate Eric Nystrom about getting open for a goal so Nystrom could get his name on the 1,000-assist plaque and be a part of history.

“He’s a hoot out there,” Nystrom said.

Asked Monday when he was going to give fans a post-goal salute — a tradition he has refrained from in Dallas — Jagr broke into a big smile, then walked away. He knows people want the salute, and he knows when he will give it.

But he doesn’t think you need to know. That might ruin the surprise.

Jagr likes the Stars. The Stars like Jagr. So the two sides are talking about a contract extension.

If it gets done, he’ll let you know. That’s just kind of the way he does things. FRISCO — Jaromir Jagr likes the Stars. The Stars like Jaromir Jagr. So the two sides are talking about a contract extension.

The interesting thing about Jagr is, well, he’s very interesting. He’s different, and older, and he understands his power as an NHL icon. But he’s also cautious, and unsure, and he understands his legacy as an NHL icon.

That’s why he seems to go with one-year deals — like the $4.55 million contract he signed with the Stars last summer — and then deal with whatever happens after that.

“In my mind, I don’t want to sign too long, because if I play bad, I don’t want to be stuck someplace and I don’t want to hurt the team,” Jagr said Wednesday. “The whole key is I want to be someplace where I can help. If I play [bad], I don’t want to do that to somebody. If I play good, I can always sign.”

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk has gotten to know Jagr well this season, which is why the team is pursuing an extension with its 41-year-old leading scorer.

“Certainly, everything that Jaromir has done, whether that’s off the ice and helping the younger players or leading the team in scoring, we’re happy with it,” Nieuwendyk said. “So, naturally, we’d like to pursue an extension.”

Nieuwendyk said he couldn’t characterize the talks, other than to say that the two sides like each other. He said he doesn’t want the talks to be a distraction for the team or for Jagr.

He also wouldn’t comment on whether failing to sign Jagr to an extension would mean the Stars would make Jagr available at the trade deadline April 3. But you get the feeling your No. 68 Stars jersey is safe for this year.

The risk of moving Jagr and then trying to re-sign him in the summer is too great. If the Stars really like his contributions, and he’s not ready to sign a contract extension now, then the right move for the Stars, it seems, is to simply hang on to what they have and try to get things done in the summer.

Jagr is a complex personality, but Nieuwendyk said he’s enjoyed peeling back the layers of the eighth-leading scorer in NHL history.

“He’s really a hockey nerd,” Nieuwendyk said with a laugh. “I mean, he just loves the game and lives for the game, and you love that about him. I’ve really enjoyed his personality, and he’s obviously been one of our best players, so I think he’s brought a ton to our team.”

Jagr said he didn’t want to talk about a contract extension with the media, but he is honest when you ask him what he wants out of his career.

He spent four years in the KHL in Russia, played in Philadelphia with the Flyers last season, signed with the Stars during the summer, then played with Kladno in the Czech League during the lockout. He has only spent a short time in Dallas, but he seems to be fitting in, leading the team in points (25) and goals (14).

“I like it here, and I don’t want to change all the time,” Jagr said. “I didn’t want to leave Philly, but it happened. The more I feel comfortable, the more I feel I know the place, the better.”

But he also knows the power he yields. He is at 999 assists, and would become the 12th player in league history to hit 1,000. So on the bench Monday against Minnesota, he joked to linemate Eric Nystrom about getting open for a goal so Nystrom could get his name on the 1,000-assist plaque and be a part of history.

“He’s a hoot out there,” Nystrom said.

Asked Monday when he was going to give fans a post-goal salute — a tradition he has refrained from in Dallas — Jagr broke into a big smile, then walked away. He knows people want the salute, and he knows when he will give it.

But he doesn’t think you need to know. That might ruin the surprise.

Jagr likes the Stars. The Stars like Jagr. So the two sides are talking about a contract extension.

If it gets done, he’ll let you know. That’s just kind of the way he does things.

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